Pressing machine attachment



Aug. 1947- s. BLUMENFELD v 2,426,431

PRESSING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. I l, 1945 HI'I'IF YEKS,

Patented Aug. 26, 1947 PRESSING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Samuel Blumenfeld, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Clothing Devices, Inc., Detroit,

ration of Michigan Mich., a corpo- Application September 1, 1945, Serial No. 614,029

Claims. (Cl. 223-39) The present invention relates to a pressing machine attachment for use in forming and pressing trouser cuffs.

Difiiculty is encountered in pressing trouser cuffs at the time they are made because, since the trouser leg is tapered, the turned up portion which forms the cuff is smaller than the overlapped portion of the trouser leg. Consequently, when the cuff is pressed for th first time, there is a tendency to wrinkle the trouser leg within and'above the cuff. In addition, it has been necessary in the past to press the cuff while it was basted. As a result, the marks left by the basting threads had to be removed by a repressing operation.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a conventional steam pressing machine capable of stretching and holding trouser cuffs in an extending flat position prior to and during the pressing operation, in order to prevent wrinkling of .the trouser legs in and above the cuff. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the type mentioned which will permit removal of the basting threads prior to the initial pressing operation and thus obviate thenecessity of repressing.

: Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the type mentioned which may be readily mounted in position or removed from a conventional pressing machine without the use of any tools, in order to permit use of the machine for other purposes.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the type mentioned which will automatically accommodate cuffs of different sizes.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

" In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional steam'pressing machine showing the preferred form of the present invention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the attachment and the lower portion of the pressing machine taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated, particularly in Figure 1, a conventional form of steam pressing'machine which may be of any desired construction. The machine illustrated comprises a base I upon which is supported a stationary pressing buck 2. Themachine includes a pressing head 3 which is pivotally connected by means of a pair of arms 4 to the base same axis and is connected to the head 3 by means of a tension rod I. Since the details of construction of the pressing machine form no part of the present invention, they need not be further illustrated or described. It will be understood, however, that suitable means are provided to supply steam to the buck and head, and such means may include the previously mentioned pipe 5.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the attachment of the present invention comprises a flat sheet-likemember 8 which is formed of resilient material, such as sheet metal. Member 3 is secured at its rear edge to a transverse flat bar 9 and a pair of rearwardly extending flat bars II] by means of rivets II. The transverse bar 9 projects beyond the side edge of plate 8 and pivotally supports at its ends a pair of arms 12 by means of pins 13. The rearward ends of the arms I 2 extend beyond the pivot pins and are connected by means of a spring I4 with the result that the forward ends of the arms are constantly urged outwardly toward the position illustratedin solid lines in Figure 2. The forward edge of the plate 8 is provided with a pair of forward projections I5 which extend approximately parallel to each other.

The rearwardly projecting bars IE1 are each provided with a semi-circular upwardly curved section I6 adapted to rest upon the pipe 5. The bars I0 are connected by transverse bars ll and I8. Transverse bar I! is fixed to the bars ill in any suitable manner as by means of rivets, while the transverse member I8 is adjustably connected to the bars III by means of stove bolts [9 which pass through slots 20 formed in the rear portion of thearms I0. As a result of this arrangement, the transverse-member l9 may be shifted fore'an'd aft on the bars 10.

The intermediate section of the transverse member I8 is curved downwardly as best shown in Figure 3 and is adapted to engage beneath the tension rod 1; and the adjustment of the transverse member [8 along the bars I0 is such that when the press'is open, the plate 8 and arms I2 will be held in a position slightly elevated above the top surface of the buck 2 in the manner shown in Figure 3. It will be observed that no fastening devices are employed to secure the attachment in position and, consequently, it may be removed by-simply lifting the forward end of the attachme'nt until the bars I0 clear the pipe 5 and then moving the entire attachment to the left as viewed inFigure 3. The attachment may be installed by a reverse operation.

The operation of the device is as follows: With the parts in the positions illustrated in the drawings, the operator grasps one of the arms l2 and inserts that arm and the adjacent projection l5 into'the basted cufl in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. As soon as one cuff is placed in position, the operation is repeated by inserting the other projection l5 and the other arm within the second cuff. The two trouser legs then assume the position indicated in dotted lines at 2| in Figure 2; and the tension of spring 14 stretches the material sufficiently to remove all wrinkles in the trouser leg and extend the cuff in a fiat position slightly elevated above the buck. At that time, the operator may remove the basting threads without disturbing the form or condition of the cuff. Thereupon, the press is closed in the usual manner to press the cuff. During the downward swinging movement of the head 3, that portion of the tension rod 1 which overlies the transverse bar 18 will be elevated, permitting the plate 8 and arms l2 to lower 24 and contact with the buck. The arms l2 and plate 8, being formed of resilient material, may flex during the pressing operation to conform with the shape of the head and buck; and are sufficiently thin so that they will not interfere with the pressing operation.

It will be apparentthat there is pr0vided, in accordance with the present invention, an exceedingly simple and practical attachment, which may be readily installed on or removed from a conventional machine of any desired type. The attachment will automatically provide the proper degree, of stretch for cuffs of vvarious widths due to the action of spring 14. Sinceit holds the cuff and lower portion of the trouser leg in a stretched condition prior to the pressing operation, the cuffsmay be inspected and the basting threads removed before closing the press and no wrinkles will be formed during the pressing operation. Consequently, theoperation of forming and pressing trouser cuffs isgreatly facilitated. ,The attachment may be instantly installed on or removed from the press at will with the result that the press may be used for other purposes without inconvenience. s

The particular form of attaching means illustrated is specially adapted foruse on aform of pressing machine which is widely used, but it is understood that the principles of the invention may be adapted for use on machines of differing construction without departing from'the spirit of the invention. Itis only necessary that the attaching bars include a portion which will rest upon apart of the head structure at one point and have a more rearwardly disposed portion which will engage beneath another portionrof the head structure so that the attachment is supported in cantilever fashion abovethe buck and can be removed by simply lifting it out of contact.

What is claimed is: I

1. A removable trouser cufi pressing attachmentfor the type of pressing machine which includes a stationary buck and a head structure pivoted to the buck on an axis located rearwardly of the buck, said attachment includingaportion adapted to enter a trouser cuff and hold it in flat extended position adjacent the top surface of the buck and having an attaching. portion extending rearwardly and adapted at one point to engage the upper surface of a portion of the head structure and at a more rearwardly located point being adapted to engage the under surface of a portion of the head structureto provide acantilever support for the attachment whichrwillhold the cuff engaging portion above the topsurface of the buck, when the press is'open.

2. A removable trouser cuff pressing attachment for the type of pressing machine which includes a stationary buck, ahead pivoted to the buck onv an axis located rearwardly of the buck, a cylindrical member co-axial with said axis, and head counter-balancing means connected to the head and located rearwardly of said axis, said attachment comprising a member adapted to enter a trouser cuff and hold it in flat extended position adjacent the top surface of the buck and a, rearwardly extending attaching portion secured to the member, said attaching portion having a recess in its lower side adapted to receive said cylindrical member and having a projection rearwardly of said recess adapted to project beneath and contact the under side of a portion of said counter-balancing means.

3. A removable trouser cuff pressing attachment for the type of pressing machine which includes a stationary buck, a head pivoted to the buck on an axis located rearwardly of the buck, a cylindrical member co-axial with said axis, and head counter-balancing means connected to the head and located rearwardly of said axis, said attachment comprising a member adapted to enter a trouser cuff and hold it in fiat extended position adjacent the top surface of the buck and a rearwardly extending attaching portion secured to the member, said attaching portion having a recessin its lower side adapted to receive said cylindrical member and having a projection rearwardlyof said recess adapted to project beneath and contact the under side of a portion of said counter-balancing means, to hold the trouser cufi engaging member slightly above the top surface ofthe buck when .the buck is elevated.

4. A trouser cuff pressing attachment for a steam pressing machine comprising a flat sheet of material having a pair of spaced projections extending in substantially the same direction and a pair of arms pivotally secured to the attachment and adapted to swing into positions in which their free ends lie substantially parallel to and on opposite sides of said projections respectively whereby the free end of one pivoted arm and one of said projectionsmay be inserted in eachtrouser cuff, and resilient means for urging the free ends of the arms away from the pro,- jections to stretch the cuffs and hold them in a flat condition prior to pressing.

5. A trouser cuffpressing attachment for a steam pressing machinecomprising a fiat sheet of material having a pair of spaced projections extending in substantially the same direction and a pair of arms pivotally secured to the attachment and adapted to swing into positions in which their free'ends lie substantially parallel to and on opposite sides of said projections respectively whereby the free end of one pivoted arm and one of said projections may be inserted in each trouser oud, and resilient means for urging REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s rATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 2,108,372 Fulps Feb. 15, 1938 1,558,946 Tedford Oct. 27,1925 

